Stalock recognized for dedication and perseverance

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Alex Stalock went from winning a game in his NHL debut to nearly losing his hockey career three days later. But because the Stalock didn’t give up he’s carved out a nice niche for himself with the Sharks this season and is being recognized as the team’s nominee for the annual Masterton Trophy given to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

The 26-year-old native of St. Paul, Minn., is 11-5-2 in 22 appearances this season with a sparkling 1.91 goals-against average and solid .930 save percentage. His two career shutouts are part of a team-record shutout streak of 178:55 Stalock set between Jan. 5-27.

Those numbers and significant contributions would not have happened without successful rehabilitation from a dangerous accident more than three years ago when he had a nerve severed after getting accidentally stepped on and cut while playing for the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. Stalock was sprawled face-first on the ice trying to freeze a loose puck in the crease when Dwight King of the Manchester Monarchs skated over the back of the goalie’s left leg.

Initially, Stalock thought it was just a cut, but he soon found out that night in a hospital about the nerve damage and the potential career-threatening nature of the injury. Two medical procedures within 10 days ended the pain when the nerve was re-attached, but a long and challenging rehab would follow.

“Being young and having it be my first injury, I kind of played it that it’s not going to be a big deal,” Stalock recalled. “And I think that mindset was a big reason to get through it.”

Stalock returned not to Worcester and the AHL, but to the nearby Stockton Thunder of the low-level ECHL on Jan. 21, 2012. He posted a 5-1-0 record, a 2.83 GAA and .914 save

Alex Stalock is 11-5-2 in 22 games

percentage in six games to earn promotion back to the AHL where he split time between Worcester and the Peoria Rivermen.

Bad luck struck again, however, as in his fifth game he fell victim to another season-ending injury, this time a broken finger sustained during warm-ups. A full summer of rehabilitation and strength building followed before Stalock was completely back on track. He tended net 38 games for Worcester last season to re-establish his game before winning a training camp battle this season to stick with the Sharks.

Popular among teammates, Stalock’s story inspires so suggests Sharks coach Todd McLellan.

“I think that’s why he fits our team so well,” McLellan said. “Guys know his story, they understand where he’s been, and they get excited about playing for him.”

The Masterton Trophy winner is selected from a poll of the 30 chapters of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season, and a $2,500 grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the winner.

Former Shark Tony Granato received the award in 1997. And this year’s winner will be named on June 24 during the league’s annual awards presentation in Las Vegas following the conclusion of the postseason.